Bunch-building attachment for winding machines



' Jan. 18,1927.

s. M. FORD BUNCH BUILDING ATTACHMENT FOR WINDING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 izza/ ,lflofngns:

. Original Filed Feb. 20, 1924 S. M. FORD Jan. 18, 1927.

BUNCHBUILDING ATTACHMENT FOR WINDING MACHINES Original Filed Feb 20. 1924 3 Sheets Sheet 1,614,834 Jan. 18, 1927. s M. FORD BUNCH BUILDING ATTACHMENT FOR WINDING MACHINES Ofiginal Filed Feb. 20, 1924 :5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

STUART M. FORD, 013 BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

BUNCH-BUILDING ATTACHMENT FOR WINDING MACHINES.

Application filed February 20, 1924, Serial No. 694,169. Renewed December 9, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in winding machines for winding weftor filling-bobbins for use in loom shuttles.

The present improvement is directed particularly to bunch-building devices for effecting a preliminary winding or bunch on the yarnreceiver before the main or service winding is commenced with the full traverse. The relatively short yardage of yarn in the preliminary winding or bunch is supplied for the purpose of preventing the bobbin from running out before the feeler-devices operate to replenish the shuttle in automatic looms. In automatic or feeler looms, the feeler acts to cause a change of filling when the supply of yarn on the bobbin is exhausted down to the preliminary winding, the bunch still containing sufficient yardage to supply one or more picks just before or while the change is being made. The extra varn in the bunch insures against halfpicks or miss-picks in the fabric should the yarn in the service winding on the bobbin run out before a new bobbin is supplied to the shuttle.

One object of the present invention is to provide a bunch-builder of simpler construction and more efiicient operation than those heretofore used in the art.

Another object of the invention is to provide, a bunch-builder constituting a unitary device adapted to be applied as an attachment to all types of winding machines without change in the winding-mechanism there Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified which can be manufactured at relatively low cost and which may be applied to the winding machine without machining or fitting and with out adjustment of the parts of the windingmechanism.

iLBOilRQI object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified in which there are no moving parts, such as gears, ratchets and levers, and which is therefore proof against derangement or getting out of order.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified in which the parts are proof against wear or deterioration during long periods of use.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes several embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a usual type of bobbin winder, showing the essential elements of the winding-mechanism and illustrating my improved bunchrbuilder as applied to use therewith;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the windingspindle and traversing yarn-guide of the winding machine, showing the cooperative relation of my improved bunch-builder therewith Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the bunchbuilder shown in one of its preferred forms;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing another form of the invention in which the parts of the device are adapted to be opened in a somewhat different manner;

Fig. 5 is a view showing a slightly different arrangement of the device; and

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating another modified form thereof.

Referring first to Fig. 1, I have herein illustrated a well known type of bobbin winder comprising a rotating winding-spindle and a traversing yarnor thread-guide for laying the filling in place on the yarn-receiver held on the spindle. This type of winding machine is illustrated by way of example only, however, for it is to be understood that my new device is adapted for use with any other style of machine embodying a rotating winding-spindle and reciprocatin yarmguide, or to winders in which the bobbin instead of the guide is reciprocated to effect the traverse of the yarn. As herein illustrated, the bobbin winder consists essentially of a rotatable winding-spindle A which projects from the side of the machine frame F and is adapted to receive the wooden or metal bobbin or other yarn-carrier B. The yarn-receiver B is generally provided at one end with a conical butt or head b on which the first layers of yarn are deposited, but it may vary from this form 100 if desired. In some cases, for instance, the

cop or bobbin may be wound on a yarn-receiver without the conical butt at its end.

The winding-spindle A rotates in bearings in the frame F and is driven from skew- 105 gears g g enclosed within the frame. Arranged opposite the winding-spindle A is a. longitudinally reciprocable traverse-bar C to which is hinged or pivoted the thread-guide Gr. The, traverse-bar O slides in bearings 110 face inclined to the perpendicular. bunch-luulder K is adapted to be secured in the machine frame F and is supported at its outer end in an auxiliary end-bearing E, the bar being reciprocated from a rockerarm D on an oscillating rocker-shaft R.

The yarn feeds to the threadguide G from a suitable source of supply, not herein shown, and it is usual to apply a sutficient tension to the strand to provide for laying it firmly in place on the bobbin to prevent the coils from slipping or sliding out of position. Any suitable tension-means may be provided for this purpose and, as herein shown, the ten sion-device consists of a well known arrangement of opposed disks T between which the yarn 1/ draws. In machines of the present type it is also usual to provide automatic stopping-devices to arrest the operation of the windilag-mechanism when the yarn breaks or becomes exhausted. For this purpose a drop-wire or breakage-lever L, such as shown in Fig. 1, is employed, withthe yarn 1 arranged to lead under a guide-wire Z on said lever..

Extending from the side of the frame F of the winding machine is an arm or bracket H which serves as the support for the outboard bearing E in which the traverse bar C slides. On the present type of machine I may employ this arm or bracket H as a convenient means for supporting my improved bunch-builder which is designated in the drawing by the reference character K. The bunch-builder K may be supported from the bracket H by means of an arm or clampmember 2 which is shown most clearly in Fig. 2. It will be noted from this view that the bracket H is of T-shape in crosssection, and the bunch-builder supportingmember 2 is designed to clamp against its horizontal web h. For this purpose the member 2 is provided with a socket or groove 3 adapted to receive the edge of the web it of the bracket H, and reaching down in under the vertical web 72/ of the bracket is a curved linger 42 carrying a set-screw 5 at its end. By adjusting the set-screw 5 with its pointed end engaging at the rear of the vertical web 7t of the bracket H, the forward or socket portion of the member 2 may be firmly clamped in position. Reaching forwardly from the member 2 is an arm 6 formed with a circular boss or hub '7 arranged with its The against the inclined front face of the boss 7 by means of a square-bodied bolts heldin place by a nut 9.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, my improved bunch-builder inits simplest form comprises two alin ed plates or combs 10 and 11 provided on their opposite edges with intermeshing teeth or dents 12. The main or fixed plate 10 is secured fast to the hub? of the supporting-member 2 by. means of an ear-13 having a square hole 14 repress through which the bolt 8 is inserted. Formed as a part of, or fastened to, the rearward face of the plate 10 at its lower end is a web or extension 15 to which is pivoted the movable plate or comb 11. The comb 11 may be pivoted with respect to the fixed comb 10 by means of a suitable shouldered screw 16 screwed into the web or extension 15 and secured in place by the nut 17. At the top of the movable comb 11 is a linger-piece 18 projecting from its side and adapted to be grasped by the operator to tiltthe comb outward away from the fixed comb 10, in the manner as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. As shown in this view, a helical spring 20 is anchored to a pin 21 driven into the fixed comb 10 and its opposite end is hooked through a similar pin 22 in the movable comb 11 so that the spring normally holds the two combs in closed relation with their opposite teeth in mesh, as illustrated by the full lines in Fig. 3. lVith the combs mounted in this relation their intermeshing teeth form a tortuous slot or pathway extending upwardly thereof.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 3 that the lower portion of the combs 10 and 11 are without teeth, their abutting edges being formed with straight faces 19 which are normally held in contact to maintain the combs in proper relation wit-h their teeth intermeshed. Above these abutting faces 19 the combs are cut away to form an opening for receiving the yarn as it. is drawn into place beneath the bottom tooth on the combs when the latter are separated by swinging the movable comb on its pivot.

In Fig. 1, I have shown a different form of spring for holding the combs 10 and 11 in closed relation. In this modification of the device a wire 24 is formed into a helical coil 25 with its end inserted in a hole in the extension 15 of the :zed comb 10. The coil is extended in a wire linger 26 which reaches up through a wire eye 27 projecting from the finger-grip or extension 18 on the movable comb 11. The spring 2st acts in the same manner asthe spring 20 previously described to close the combs with a jackknife action.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1. 2 and 3, the bunch-builder K is attached to its supporting-member 2 with the combs 10 and 11 having a general. iiiclination towards the axis of the windingspindle A of the machine. as shown most .spindle A substantially midway between the extremes of traverse of the thread-guide G. The Cl8VlC8,1S t1l]USl39Cl in this position so that the yarn or thread y may be d rected from the thread-guide Gr down through the lower opening between the combs and then upto the winding-spindle in a bight or loop indicated by the reference character y in Figs. 1 andQ of the drawings. The bight or loop 9 of the yarn intervenes between the thread-guide G and the Windingspindle A to prevent the guide from traversing the yarn onto the bobbin B during the building of the bunch indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. That is to say, my present bunchbuilding device operates to hold the yarn for a certain period to restrict its traverse at the beginning of the winding of the bobbin so that the strand will not be Wound back and forth on the bit or head I) of the yarn-carrier B. It will be understood, of course, that normally the yarn 3 leads up from the tension-device T and breakagelever L through the guide G, and thence directly to the bobbin B- on the winding-spindle A. The method of operation of the coniplete device is as follows:

The bunch-builder K is attached to its arm or support- 2 and the latter clamped in proper position on the bracket H of the winding machine. The combs 10 and 11 are then adjusted in proper relation so that the medial axis bisecting their teeth is directed to a point midway of the extremes of travcrse of the thread-guide G, as shown in Fig.

-1. and the device is ready for operation.

The strand of thread or yarn ;1 is led up from its source of supply, not herein shown, and through the tension-device T, whence it leads under the guide-wire Z on the breakage-lever L and is then carried up through the guiding-groove in the. thread-guide G. It is then drawn down from the guide G in a loop 3 and passed in under the the lowermost tooth 12 on the fixed comb 10, the movable comb 11 being swung out to one side to separate the combs for this purpose in the manner as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. After the loop 3 of the yarn has been caught under the lower tooth on the comb 10, the movable comb 11 is released to allow it to be swung back under the action of the spring with its teeth intermeshing with the teeth on the fixed comb. The yarn is then drawn up to the winding-spindle and its end attached to the yarn-receiver or bobbin B in any suitable manner. In practice the operation of threading the machine is sometimes .varied by reversing the steps above described. For instance, the end of the yarn may first be attached to the barrel of the bobbin B and then drawn down in a loop 3 under the lower tooth on the fixed comb 10 and the other portion of the loop carried up over the thread-guide and thence led down under the breakage-lever L and through the tension-device T.

Now. after the machine is started to operate in the usual manner, the winding-spilt dle A will be rotated to turn the bobbin B and the yarn-guide G will be traversed back and forth from the larger end of the butt 6,

of the bobbin down along the barrel thereof. During the traverse of the guide G, the length of yarn extending from the guide to the bunch-builder will move back and forth, but the yarn leading from the bunch-builder to the bobbin will have no traverse imparted to it by the guide. The yarn will therefore be caused to Wind onto the barrel of the bobbin B in closely laid turns or coils which eventually build up a convex bunch represented by the dotted lines 00 in Fig. 1.

The loop of yarn held by the bunch-builder K is eventually released as the hunch is completed, the freeing of the yarn from the device being effected by a progressive stepbystep action as next explained. As the length of yarn leading from the threadguide G down to the bunch-builder K is traversed or moved back and forth it will cause the loop or bight y in the yarn l0 slide along the teeth 12 on the combs 10 and 11, first in one direction and then in the other, to be progressively released from one tooth and caught up by the next tooth in the series, with an action like the. climbing of a ladder. Stated more specifically, as the thread-guide G moves to the right it will J cause the bight of yarn 7 caught under the first or lowermost tooth 12 on the comb 10 to be slid to the right until it draws off from the end of this tooth and engages the next succeeding tooth on the opposite comb 11. In this way the yarn is shifted progressive.- ly from one tooth to another on the two combs 10' and 11, so that it traverses a tortuous course from the lowermost tooth to the last upper tooth where it is finally released from the bunch-builder.

As the bight of yarn y slides off from the uppermost tooth of the combs of the bunchbui-lder, the slack in the loop will be taken up by the rotation of the bobbin B until the yarn draws directly from the guide G to the bobbin. At the juncture, since the yarn leads direct from the guide to the bobbin it will be caused to traverse up the incline of the butt I) of the bobbin; or in other words, the yarn-guide G' Will commence to lay the yarn with its full traverse to build up the conical layers of the service winding in the manner as well known to those versed in the art. I

As the yarn slides back and forth and slips from one tooth to another on the combs 10 and 11, a slight motion will be set up in the length of yarn leading from the bunchbuilder to the bobbin B so that the yarn is given a small lead along the barrel of the bobbin. Thatis to say, the bunch 00 being wound will assume an elongated shape due to this slight traverse or feed of the yarn back and forth along the barrel of the bobbin B as caused by its play across the teeth of the combs. It is to be noted that the teeth on the combs l0 and 11 are of graduated lengths, increasing from the bottom to the top, and the purpose of this arrangement of the device will now be understood. It will be seen that as the lowermost tooth is at the greatest distance from the yarn guide G there is less movement or play of the yarn at this point, and hence the tooth must be shorter than those at the top where the range of movement of the yarn is increased. As the loop in the yarn approaches the upper or last "tooth more movement is given to the yarn, since the teeth are closer to the yarn-guide, and therefore the teeth must be graduated to increase in length in proportion to the increase in play of the yarn as it passes across the teeth in progressing toward the upper end of the combs.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the fixed comb 10 as provided with ten teeth and the movable comb 11 as having nine teeth intermeshing therewith. It will be realized that the length of time during which the yarn is V restrained in the bunch-builder to prevent it.

from traversing on the bobbin is regulated by the number of teeth which it encounters in traversing its tortuous path from one end of the combs to the other. Therefore the number of teeth in the combs determines the length of yarn in the bunch. lVith the combs proportioned as illustrated in Fig.1, the

yarn will be rest 'ained from traversing on the bobbin a sulficient length of time to ef feet the winding of a bunch containing about six or eight yards, the amount of yardage in the bunch being also dependent of course on the ratio of speed between the rotating winding-spindle and traversing threadguide. In Fig. 3, I have illustrated the fixed comb 10 as having sixteen teeth and the movable comb fifteen, so that with this arrangement the yarn will be restrained from traversing on the bobbin for a longer period and therefore a greater length of yarn will be wound into the bunch.

I11 the modification of the device shown in Fig. 4, the two comb-members 10 and 11 are mounted in such relation that the movable comb may be turned or swung back on an axis extending parallel to the face of the combs. This arrangement of the device adapts itself for more convenient threading oi the yarn through the bunch-builder when the end of the yarn is first secured to the bobbin and then led down between the combs and up to the guide again. With the construction shown in Fig. 4, the operator seizes the yarn in the fingers and drawing the hand down presses against the movable combmember with a sweeping motion whereby the combs are opened and threaded practically simultaneously.

Beferring to Fig. 4, the arm of the supporting-member 2 which reaches down from the bracket H is formed with a hub 31 in which is held a horizontal rod 32 fastened in place by a set-screw 33. The fixed comb 34 is formed with a hub 35 also held rigidly in place on the rod 32 by means of a setscrew 36. The movable comb 37 has a similar hub 38 which is pivoted on the rod 32 to adapt the comb to be swung back into the position illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. At the inner end of the hub 38 of the comb 37 is a lug 39 projecting into a slot 40 cut into the end of the hub 35 of the fixed comb 34. The lug 39 normally engages one end of the slot 40 in the hub 38 to hold the comb 37 in alinement with the comb 34. When the comb 37 is swung on its pivot-rod 32 the lug 39 will contact with the opposite end oi the slot 40 to limit its swinging movement in this direction. For maintaining the movable comb 37 normally in closed relation with the fixed comb 34 I may employ a helical spring 41 coiled about a reduced extension 42 on the hub 38. One end of the spring 41 is held fast in a hole 43 in the hub 38 and the opposite end is fastened in a collar 44 which is secured to the end of the rod 32 by means of a setscrew45. The collar 44 abuts the end of the extension 42 on the hub 38 to hold the comb-member 37 in opposite interengaging relation with the comb 34. At the side of the comb 37 is an extension or hand-rest 46 adapted to meet the back of the hand as the fingers are drawn down to thread the yarn under the lower tooth on the fixed comb 34. That is to say, the natural movement of the hand downwardly and across the edge of the fixed comb 34 to thread the yarn in place between the combs will cause the back of the hand to meet the extension 46, whereby the movable comb 37 will be swung back into the position illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4 while the yarn is being inserted under the lower tooth on the fixed comb 34. lVith this arrangement of the bunch-builder only one hand is required to thread it, the natural movement of the hand in carrying the yarn through the device operating to open the comb-members. After the device is threaded in this way the hand is drawn up to carry the yarn to the thread-guide and the movable comb 37 will thus be released and returned automatically to operative position by means of the spring 41 acting on its hub 38. It is to be understood that with this form of the invention the movable comb 37 is placed toward the outer end oi the winding-spindle, that is, nearer the operator than the fixed comb.

It has been explained that when the bunch-builder is adjusted with its combs it) and 11 set at an inclination to the perpendicular, as illustrated in Fig. 1, theloop o1" yarn 3 in progressing upwardly across the teeth of the combs will have a slight lateral travel or displacement imparted to it so that it will feed along the barrel of the bobbin B to cause the windings to form an elongated or relatively broad bunch :2. Such a broad flat bunch is desirable for use in mosttypes of feeler-looms in order to insure that the feeler will invariably impinge against the bunch, even though the bobbins are not always placed in the same relative this vertical arrangement of the combs the lateral feed of the yarn is restricted to a width to adapt it to be wound in the narrow groove at the end of the butt of the bobbin, when such a form of reserve winding is required, as is sometimes the practice.

Fig. 6 illustrates another modification in the arrangement of the bunch-builder in which the combs and 51 are so constructed that their teeth 52 assume an olfset relation. That is to say, the teeth 52 are arranged horizontally, but are progressively offset or stepped to one side from the bottom to the top of the combs, similar to the pitch of a flight of stairs. This form of construction provides the same result as with the arrangement of the combs illustrated in Fig. 1; that is, it will cause the loop of yarn 1 held by the combs to travel or feed laterally along the barrel or stem of the bobbin to a suflicient extent to build a longer, flatter bunch as shown at a; in Fig. 6;

It will be observed that with any of the forms of the device as herein illustrated, my invention provides a particularly simple and eflicient bunch-builder for effecting the winding of a bunch on the bobbin before the commencement of the Service winding. It is particularly to be noted that there are no moving parts to the device, such as gears, ratchets or levers, and therefore nothing to become broken or displaced, or to get out of order.

Another feature of improvement to be noted is that my present bunch-builder does not require accurate adjustment or setting at the commencement of the winding. All that is required is to thread the yarn through the device in the simple manner explained, so that the operator is not liable to neglect settin or adjusting any mechanism through carelessness or inattention as with other bunch-builders of more complicated arrangement.

Moreover, the device is constituted as a unitary attachment or fitment, complete in itself, and therefore adapted for use with practically all types of winding machines. No readjustment or rearrangement of the parts of the winding-mechanism is required in applying my improved bunch-builder to the winder, and no machining or fitting is necessary in attaching the device in place on the machine.

I believe I am the first to devise a simple, eflicient bunch-builder having means for restraining the yarn from being traversed on the bobbin at the start of the winding, and in which the yarn is caused to follow a tortuous course or to be controlled by a progressive .step-by-step action to release it from restraint. I therefore claim this feature broadly without restriction as to the form, structure or arrangement of the parts of the device, and without limitation as to the details of construction as herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A bunch-builder for bobbin winders and like machines comprising means for restraining the yarn from being traversed at the beginning of the Winding to effect the building of a bunch, said means being adapted to allow the yarn to travel thereover whereby it ultimately releases itself therefrom after a predetermined length has been wound into the bunch.

2. A bunch-builder for bobbin winders and like machines having means over which the yarn travels at the start of the winding to prevent it from being traversed on the bobbin, said means arranged to permit the release of the yarn after a predetermined length has been wound into the bunch so that it may be traversed to wind the main part of the bobbin.

3. The combination with the traversingmeans of a winding. machine, of means for holding the yarn from being traversed thereby at the commencement of the winding to form a bunch on the bobbin, said means provided with a tortuous pathway through which the yarn travels to eventual ly release itself at the completion of the bunch winding whereby it will thereafter be traversed to build the service winding.

4. In a winding machine, the combination with the winding-spindle and means to tram erse the yarn with respect thereto, of a bunch-builder for holding the yarn from being traversed to the normal extent at the commencement of th winding whereby to form a bunch on the bobbin. said bunchbuilder having means adapted to be progressively engaged bv the yarn with astep-bystep action so that the yarnreleases itself therefrom after a predetermined period and is then traversed to build the bobbin with the service winding.

5. In combination witha winding machine having means for traversing the yarn on the bobbin, a bunch-builder comprising members having projections with which the yarn engages to prevent it from being traversed at the commencement of the winding, said projections arranged to allow the yarn to pass progressively thereover until it is finally released at the completion of the bunch winding to be traversed to build the service winding on the bobbin.

6. In a winding machine, the combination with means for traversing the yarn on the bobbin, of a bunch-builder comprising opposite comb-members having correlated teeth adapted to be progressively engaged by a loop in the yarn to prevent the latter from being traversed while the bunch is being formed and acting to release the yarn at the completion of the bunch to allow it to be traversed to build the service winding on the bobbin.

7. In a winding machine, the combination With a winding-spindle for rotating the bobbin and means for traversing the yarn thereon, of a bunch-builder having means to hold the yarn in a loop intervening between the traverse-means and the bobbin to prevent it from being traversed during the winding of the bunch, said means provided with a tortuous pathway through which the loop travels due to its oscillation under the action of the traversing-means whereby said loop is released atthe completion of the bunch so that the yarn is thereafter traversed to build the service winding on the bobbin.

8. In a winding machine, the combination with a winding-spindle for rotating the bobbin and means for traversing the yarn with respect thereto, of a bunch-builder comprising opposite members having correlated projections forming a tortuous passage between said members, the yarn leading from the traversing-means to the bobbin being caused to pass through said pathway to initially restrain it from being traversed to the normal extent on the bobbin until it is released by the bunch-builder.

9. In a winding machine, the combination with a winding-spindle and yarn-guide adapted to be reciprocated one with respect to the other to traverse the yarn on the bobbin, of a bunch-builder having a series of elements across which the yarn draws with a progressive advance thereover whereby the yarn is restrained from being traversed by the yarn-guide at the commencement of the winding to build a bunch on the bobbin before the building of the service winding.

10. In a winding machine, the combination with the winding-spindle and yarnguide adapted for relative movement to traverse the yarn on the bobbin, of a bunchbuilder provided with a series of elements for holding the yarn in a loop to prevent it from being traversed at the commencement of the winding to build a bunch on the bobbin, said elements adapted to be progressively engaged by the yarn with a step by-step action during the building of the bunch and to finally release the yarn at the completion of the bunch to allow it to be traversed to build the service winding on the bobbin.

11. In a windin machine, the combination with means for rotating the bobbin and means for traversing the yarn thereon, ot a bunch-builder provided witn opposite intermeshing teeth adapted to engage a loop of the yarn to prevent it from being traversed and forming a tortuous pathway through which the yarn travels to release itself from the bunch-builder at the completion of the bunch winding.

12. A bunch-builder for winding machines formed with a tortuous pathway for the yarn whereby the latter is caused to advance progressively therethrough during its oscillation by the winding-mechanism to initially restrain it from its normal traverse for a predetermined period to wind a bunch on the bobbin and to be released at the completion' of the bunch to build the service winding.

13. A bunch-builder for winding machines comprising opposite members having correlated teeth arranged to form a tortuous pathway for the yarn whereby the latter is caused to advance progressively from one tooth to another during its oscillation by the winding-mechanism to restrain it from its normal traverse for a predetermined period to wind a bunch on the bobbin and to be eventually released to build the service winding.

14. A bunch-builder for winding machines comprising two opposite members having intermeshing projections forming a tortuous pathway, one member being movable with relation to the other member to allow the projections to be separated to thread the yarn into place between the members.

15. In a bunch-builder for winding ma chines, the combination with opposite members having intermeshing projections forming a tortuous pathway for the yarn, one of said members being movable with respect to the other to separate the projections to permit the yarn to be threaded between the members, and resilient means for returning the movable member into cooperative relation with the other member.

16. In a bunch-builder for winding machines, the combination with two opposite members having projecting teeth arranged to intermesh to form a tortuous pathway for the yarn, one of said members being movable to adapt it to swing away from the other member, and means to normally maintain the two members in cooperative relation with their teeth in mesh.

17. In a bunch-builder for winding machines, the combination of a fixed comb having projecting teeth, a movable comb having teeth intermeshing with the teeth on the fixed comb and pivoted to swing into open relation with respect thereto, and a spring acting on the movable comb to cause it to swing back into cooperative relation with the fixed comb.

18. A bunch-builder for bobbin winders and like machines adapted to engage the yarn to restrain it from being traversed to the normal extent at the commencement of the bobbin while allowing it to travel through the bunch-builder to release itself therefrom at the completion of the bunch whereby it will be traversed to wind the service windingon the bobbin.

1.). A bunch-builder for bobbin-winders and like machines adapted to engage the yarn to restrain it from being traversed to the normal extent at the commencement of the bobbin, whereby to wind a bunch of reserve yarn, and to cause the restrained yarn to travel a tortuous course to release itself from the bunch-builder so that it will eventually be traversed to wind the service winding on the bobbin.

20. A bunch-builder for bobbin winders and like machines adapted to engage the yarn to restrain it from being traversed to the normal extent at the commencement of the bobbin, while permitting it to have a slight feed along the bobbin to form a relatively flat broad bunch, and also allowing it to travel through the bunch-builder to release itself therefrom at the completion of the bunch whereby it will be traversed to wind the service winding on the bobbin.

21. A bunch-builder for bobbin Winders and like machines having a plurality of elements arranged in offset relation to adapt If and like machines comprising two series of opposite alternating elements arranged in offset relation in an inclined plane to adapt the yarn being wound to travel progressively thereover while being caused to feed along the axis of the bobbin, whereby said yarn is restrained from its normal traverse for a predetermined period at the commencement of the bobbin to build a relatively broad bunch of reserve yarn before the service winding is started.

23. A bunch-builder for bobbin winders and like machines comprising a pair of opposite combs having alternate intermeshing teeth arranged in offset relation in a plane inclined to the axis of the bobbin, said teeth adapted to be progressively engaged by the yarn as it passes thereover to restrain it from being traversed to the normal extent at the commencement of the winding with the yarn playing back and forth to release itself from the combs while feeding along the axis of the bobbin to wind a relatively broad bunch before the service winding is started.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

STUART M. FORD. 

